Sunday, February 15, 2009

To Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis, delegates to the Umno general assembly and elections next month will not merely choose new party leaders but a new team who will strive to fulfil the future aspirations of the Malays and Malaysians as a whole.

Jamaludin Jarjis, the Umno supreme council member and former minister, believes in the maturity of the delegates.

They will choose not just party leaders but a highly competent team to manage and rejuvenate the party, Jamaludin added.

Likening the Umno leadership as a football team, Jamaluddin Jarjis said the party has already identified the captain -- Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who will succeed Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as party president next month.

"The delegates will now choose the other players in his team -- the strikers, defenders and goalkeeper."

Dato Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis, who will contest the vice-president's post, said he is looking forward to a smooth and fair party polls.

"The candidates have not formed teams, such as the Wawasan Team that we had at one time. There has been no negative incidents or elements such as slander in the run-up to the elections.

"This reflects a higher level of maturity within Umno and augurs well for the quality and personalities of the candidates.

"Rightly so, because Umno is being scrutinised by not only the members but also the rakyat.

"I believe that win or lose, we have to continue to work and contribute to the party."

On the negative perception that money politics is still alive in Umno, Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis said a proper management of party elections is necessary.

"That is also why it's been proposed that deputy president, vice-presidents and supreme council members be chosen by not just the 13 delegates from each Umno division, but by delegates at the branch level."